MAHS Family Bulletin #11

Dear Manual Arts Families,

We have reached an exciting milestone—50 days of school! As we move further into the school year, we are reflecting on our progress and identifying ways to continue strengthening the learning experiences we provide our students.

Our recent school Impact Review highlighted the great work happening in classrooms and helped us identify our next steps. We are focusing on ensuring students engage in challenging, grade-level assignments, participate in meaningful academic discussions, and explain their thinking using evidence and reasoning.

This week, our 10th-grade students will participate in the PSAT, and we have several opportunities for families to stay involved, including our Schoolwide Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports (SWPBIS) Parent Meeting and Senior Parent Meeting.

Thank you for continuing to partner with us. Together, we are building a school where students are challenged, supported, and prepared for success.

Dr. Flowers
Principal, Manual Arts High School

Monday, October 19

• 12th Grade Assembly — 8:40 AM

• Flag Football vs. Santee — Away — 3:00 PM

• Afterschool Credit Recovery — Room 156 — 3:30 PM

Tuesday, October 20

• Chicas Verdes Produce Giveaway — 11:20 AM

Wednesday, October 21

• Fire Drill — 8:45 AM

• Wellness Walk — MAHS Track — 9:30 AM

• Girls Tennis vs. GALA — Home — 2:30 PM

• Flag Football vs. West Adams — Away — 3:00 PM

• Afterschool Credit Recovery — Room 156 — 3:30 PM

Thursday, October 22

• PSAT — 10th Grade Students — 7:30 AM

• SWPBIS Parent Meeting — 9:15 AM

• Red Ribbon Tabling — Front of McManual — 11:45 AM

• Flag Football vs. Diego Rivera — Away — 3:00 PM

• Cross Country vs. LA High & Jefferson — Location TBD — 3:00 PM

• Afterschool Credit Recovery — Room 156 — 3:30 PM

• Senior Parent Meeting — Zoom — 5:00 PM

Friday, October 23

• 50th Day of School

• Spirit Rally — McManual — 11:50 AM

• Football vs. Jefferson — Away — 7:00 PM

Saturday, October 24

• Campus Beautification

Stay connected with student activities, announcements, celebrations, and everything happening at Magnificent Manual Arts through The Toiler Times.

At Manual Arts, we believe every student deserves access to challenging, grade-level learning.

Following our recent Impact Review, our teachers are continuing to strengthen three important instructional practices.

1. Grade-Level Learning

Students should be working on assignments and activities connected to what they are expected to learn at their grade level. Teachers are using our District-adopted curriculum to provide meaningful learning experiences that prepare students for future success.

2. Asking Questions That Require Thinking

We want students to do more than memorize facts or give short answers. Students are learning to analyze information, explain their reasoning, and support their ideas with evidence.

3. Providing Support That Builds Independence

Teachers use examples, vocabulary supports, models, and other learning tools to help students understand challenging material. As students develop their skills, they are encouraged to become increasingly independent learners.

How Can Families Help?

When your student talks about something they learned, try asking:

• What did you learn today?

• Why do you think that?

• What evidence supports your answer?

• Can you explain how you figured it out?

• What was challenging, and how did you work through it?

These simple questions encourage students to become stronger thinkers and communicators.

Students should have multiple opportunities throughout class to discuss what they are learning.

Academic discourse gives students an opportunity to organize their thinking, hear different perspectives, use academic vocabulary, and develop ideas before putting those ideas into writing.

Students are being asked:

• “What evidence supports your thinking?”
• “Why does that evidence matter?”
• “Can you build on your classmate’s idea?”
• “Do you agree or disagree? Why?”
• “How did you reach that conclusion?”

We want our students to become comfortable explaining not only what they think, but why they think it.

Every Day Counts!

We are approaching the 50th day of school, and every day of attendance makes a difference.

Our schoolwide attendance goal is 96% or higher.

When students attend regularly, they have more opportunities to participate in classroom discussions, complete challenging assignments, receive support from teachers, and build positive relationships.

Please help your student arrive on time, attend every class, and stay engaged throughout the school day.

Every Day. Every Class. Every Minute.

We want our families to have a voice in the decisions that shape Manual Arts. Consider joining one of our school leadership councils:

LSLC – Local School Leadership Council
Work alongside staff, students, and other families on important school decisions.

SSC – School Site Council
Help provide input on school programs, priorities, and how resources are used to support student achievement.

💜 Your voice and perspective matter!

If you are interested in joining LSLC or SSC, please stop by or call the Parent Center for more information.

Get involved. Share your voice. Help us Level Up Manual Arts!

Definition
To make a judgment about the quality, value, or effectiveness of something using evidence and criteria.

Student-Friendly Example
A student evaluates two solutions to a problem by comparing how effective they are and explaining which one is stronger using evidence.

Ask your student:

Which is more effective: studying a little each day or studying everything the night before a test? What evidence or reasoning supports your judgment?

Encourage your student to explain not only what they think, but why.

Evaluate = Make a judgment + Use evidence + Explain your reasoning

• The delivery of fast food/beverages is strictly prohibited as it is not consistent with school food service requirements, and it causes disruption to the school environment and the safety and well-being of students and employees (LAUSD BUL-154111.1).

• To be in compliance and ensure safety, the District does not permit external food or beverages on campuses unless District-approved. Deliveries made to the school by delivery persons of any type who are not District-approved are not permitted and will be turned away. This includes but is not limited to:

• Meeting students at the door, gate, or school parking lots

• Leaving food at a designated drop-off location on the school perimeter

• Clubs or athletic event parties *
  

• Waiting by the gate for the food/beverage

Please be aware that while cell phones and smart watches are allowed at school, they must be turned off during instructional time and put away. Phones are available for student use in the main office in case of emergency, and parents can call the office if they need to relay an important message to a student. Earbuds are only allowed to be used under the guidance of a teacher.

Failure to comply with these rules will result in confiscation of the item(s). Students who bring cell phones or personal electronic items to school do so at their own risk. The school is not responsible for lost or stolen items.

Mission

Manual Arts High School develops successful, resilient, and self-reliant students to be advocates for change in their school, community, and on a global scale.

Vision Statement

The Manual Arts High School community is dedicated to providing culturally relevant, innovative, and rigorous learning environments that prepare students to be college-and-career ready in our ever-evolving society.

Manual Arts School-Wide Learner Goals

We at Manual Arts High School believe that in order for students to be college and career ready they must:

Think Critically

• Apply problem solving skills and logical thinking to make informed decisions
• Formulate opinions based on multiple perspectives and valid evidence
• Negotiate situations outside of academic settings in order to participate in all aspects of social, economic, and civil endeavors

Oral and Written Communication

• Develop collaborative learning and working habits that will strengthen professional and personal relationships
• Communicate effectively in a variety of situations with people from diverse backgrounds
• Access and apply information to maximize skills to be competitive in a technologically evolving society

Innovative

• Understand current conditions and act on the needs of society
• Develop new ideas and inventions that shape future endeavors and make a difference within a global community
• Utilize all possible resources, including creativity and talent, in order to be successful in both current and future careers

Life Long Learners

• Develop the self-awareness and initiative required to thrive in a changing global market
• Become steadfast learners who are motivated to continue educational and career pursuits
• Establish a mindset of tolerance and open mindedness that leads to experiences and opportunities for self-improvement